Don’t be fooled – let them enjoy.
Parents who think they’re doing a good thing by curbing their child’s Halloween candy intake may be causing far more harm than the average tummy ache from too much chocolate, an expert warns.
Psychologist Dr. Sheryl Ziegler warned that food-obsessed moms and dads who micromanage — for example, so-called “tonsil moms” who obsess over their child’s every calorie — can harm their child’s mental health.
“We have to be really careful nowadays that we’re not really pushed because you want to be thin or you want to look a certain way or you want to fit in a certain way,” she told 9News.
“It can make them anxious. It can make them self-conscious – have low self-esteem.”
Children are now the recipients of many unhealthy programs regarding their well-being, according to Ziegler.
“It’s kind of taking health, wellness and fitness even and taking it so extreme that now you have kids who are really developing a disordered eating situation,” she said.
Additionally, in situations where kids go to other homes with poorer access to snacks — or maybe even an unsupervised trick-or-treat session — “those kids want to enjoy themselves.”
Instead, Ziegler suggests taking a pragmatic approach that’s much more middle-of-the-road, in order to “focus on health” over image.
When it comes to eating, parents should think in terms of “How do you feel? Are you able to do the sports you want to do? Are you able to think as clearly and as quickly as you want in class?” she said.
“That’s really big.”
Additionally, she supports the idea of letting kids know that sweets and treats are okay on special occasions — such as Halloween or birthdays — and in moderation as opposed to a strict lockdown with no leeway. for the benefits of calories.
“You want to create that feeling of consent, nothing is off limits,” Ziegler said.
“Everything should be done in moderation. “
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